Motorola Weighing Strategic Options

According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, Motorola has paused efforts to sell its home-and-networks mobility unit, which makes cable boxes and other gear. Two reasons factor into Motorola's thinking, say the Journal's sources. The first is that handset sales have increased in recent months (due to the popularity of devices such as the Droid), and that has the company believing that it might survive as one entity. The other reason is that the bids for the unit have been lower than Motorola hoped. Motorola believed it could fetch between $4 and $5 billion for the set-top-box division, but has seen bids in the $3 to $4 billion range. The next round of bids are due in mid February, but it is unclear if Motorola will accept them. Motorola's board is planning to meet to discuss how to proceed.